The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will continue performing surface improvements along the US Highway 501 corridor (South Main Street from the railroad tracks to North Main Street at the intersection of Bethel Road [VA Scenic Byway 360]) during the next several weeks.

Common Grounds in Centerville has issued an appeal for donations to send to tornado-ravaged Oklahoma. The coffee house/restaurant begin collecting items yesterday and by late afternoon had built up a stack of non-perishable foods, toiletries and household good and cash to send to tornado victims. More donations are needed, although not clothing items. The business will turn the contributions over to God’s Pit Crew in Danville, which is heading out to the Oklahoma City area to assist with the recovery after Monday’s twister left some two dozen people dead and hundreds of buildings flattened. Two Halifax girls, Hannah and Sarah Bush, right, were among those who responded to the appeal for aid yesterday. (Tom McLaughlin photo)

By a 6-2 roll call vote, the Board of Supervisors on Monday approved final changes to the $87.2 million budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Only ED-3 supervisor William I. Fitzgerald and ED-5 supervisor Barry Bank opposed the final version.